PAW. 

moo. 

^Ldg; 


VUa  ie* 


1 —  wf? 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SERIES,  No,  1„ 


Jan.  1801. 


Oct.  1868. 


EBORAH  B. 


WOMAN’S  BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY, 


OF  THE  WEST. 


11  They  have  but  left  our  weary  ways 

To  live  in  memory  here,  in  heaven  by  love  and  praise.” 


iUz. 


CHICAGO: 

James  Guilbert,  Printer. 

iSSi 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SERIES,  No.  1. 


Jan.  1801. 


Oct.  1868. 


MRS.  DEBORA 


WOMAN’S  BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY, 

OF  THE  WEST. 


u  They  have  but  left- our  weary  ways 

To  live  in  memory  here,  in  heaven  by  love  and  praise.” 


5 


CHICAGO: 

James  Guilbert,  Printer. 

l88l 


•MORNING. 


“We  take,  with  solemn  thankfulness 
Our  burden  up,  nor  wish  it  less  ; 
And  count  it  joy,  that  even  we 
May  suffer,  serve,  or  wait]  for  Thee, 
Whose  will  be  done.” 


The  annals  of  missionary  lives  are  replete  with  examples 
of  burdens  borne  a  with  solemn  thankfulness,”  of  suffering, 
joyfully  accepted,  for  Jesus’  sake;  of  service,  distasteful  in 
itself,  gladly  performed,  that  Christ  might  be  honored,  and 
“  His  will  be  done.”  From  the  long  list  of  faithful  ones,  we 
recall  with  reverence,  those,  who,  in  the  infancy  of  missions, 
amid  countless  difficulties,  and  in  untrodden  paths,  wrought 
patiently  and  bravely,  with  no  record  of  past  success  to  cheer 
them,  and  with  few  to  share  their  faith,  in  the  future  conquests 
of  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands. 

To-day,  when  the  world  has  every  where  witnessed  its  tri¬ 
umphs,  we  turn  back  the  record,  to  .sketch,  briefly,  the  life  and 
labors  of  one  of  these  early  toilers  who  passed  long  since  to 
her  home  among  the  sanctified,  Mrs.  D.  B.  L.  Wade. 

Deborah  B.  Lapham  was  born  in  Nelson,  N.  Y.  Her  life 
spanned  the  years  from  Jan.  ioth,  1801,  to  Oct.  5th,  1868,  and 
ended  in  Tavoy,  Burma.  It  was  a  life  of  loving,  humble, 
earnest  service  for  her  Lord,  and  for  the  souls  He  died  to 
save.  It  involved  self-sacrifice,  weariness,  and  suffering,  that 
the  end  she  sought  might  be  attained,  and  included  forty-five 
years  of  missionary  toil  in  a  heathen  land. 

It  was  also  a  life  u  hid  with  Christ  in  God,”  and  rich  in 
those  spiritual  gifts  and  graces,  that  come  to  the  soul,  only 


3 


through  unfaltering^faith,  and  persistent,  pleading  prayer,  and 
make  to  their  possessor,  “  all  suffering  joyous,  and  all  labor 
light.” 

Changes  came  to  her  in  her  early  childhood,  by  her  mother’s 
death,  her  father’s  removal  to  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  when  she  was 
about  ten  years  old,  and  by  his  second  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Wheeler.  In  her  new  home,  her  active,  happy  temperament, 
and  attractive  person,  soon  made  her  the  leader  of  a  large 
social  circle,  and,  in  the  family  group  she  became  to  the  new 
mother  a  valued  helper,  to  the.  younger  sisters,  a  loving  com¬ 
panion  and  counsellor.  One  of  these,  still  living,  writes  of 
her,  “I  think  very,  few  sisters  ever  had  a  better  influence, 
than  my  dear  sister  Wade.” 

At  the  age  of  eighteen,  she  publicly  consecrated  herself  to 
Christ,  and  foreshadowed  her  future  life  by  the  earnestness  of 
her  exhortations,  and  the  power  of  her  words  over  her  young 
friends,  as  she  went  from  house  to  house,  entreating  them 
to  accept  her  Saviour,  and  share  her  joy.  “  Deborah  was 
converted  a  missionary,”  said  her  father,  as  he  witnessed  her 
zeal  and  her  success,  and  soon  the  hand  of  her  Heavenly 
Father  pointed  out  her  path. 

Hamilton  was  already  a  recognized  centre  of  religious 
power.  A  missionary  society,  to  send  the  gospel  to  the  new 
settlements  in  western  New  York,  then  almost  a  wilderness, 
had  been  formed  in  1S07,  and  here,  years  before  active-work 
for  them  began,  earnest  prayer  for  the  salvation  of  the 
heathen,  had  gone  up  from  the  church  in  Hamilton.  So, 
when  God  through  Judson,  called  Baptists  to  the  front,  it 
was  accepted  as  an  answer  to  prayer.  Soon,  the  Hamilton 
Literary  and  Theological  Institution  was  founded,  “  for  the 
training  of  a  God-called  ministry,  who  should  preach  Christ 
where  He  was  not  already  known.”  To  this  school  as  its 
first  student,  in  1818,  came  Jonathan  Wade,  who  graduated 


4 

in  1822,  and  was  ordained  at  Broadalbin,  N.  Y.,  in  the  same 
year. 

Meantime,  after  ten  years  in  Burma,  Mrs.  Judson  came 
home  to  restore  her  wasted  energies,  bringing  fresh  tidings 
of  the  little  mission  at  Rangoon.  The  world  seemed  larger 
then,  than  now,  for  only  sailing  vessels  traversed  the  ocean, 
messages  were  half  a  year  in  passing,  and  Burma  was 
very  far  away,  and  was  comparatively  little  known.  So,  the 
missives  penned  in  the  invalid’s  quiet  room  in  Baltimore, 
where  the  winter  was  passed,  found  eager  readers,  and 
awakened  in  many  hearts,  a  deeper  interest  in  her  work,  and, 
when  she  returned,  Rev.  Jonathan  Wade,  and  Mrs.  Deborah 
B.  L.  Wade,  had  already  pledged  themselves  to  each  other, 
and  to  God,  and  were  ready  to  accompany  her. 

Designation  services  at  Utica,  in  which  Rev.  John  Peck  and 
Alfred  Bennett  participated,  and  the  parting  service  at  Boston, 
where  they  joined  Mrs.  Judson,  were  full  of  tender  interest. 
An  impressive  prayer  was  made  at  the  wharf  by  Dr.  Bald¬ 
win,  and  as  the  boat  passed  to  the  ship,  all  joined  at  Mrs. 
Wade’s  request,  in  singing,  “From  whence  does  this  union 
arise.”  They  sailed  June  22nd,  and  reached  Rangoon  Dec. 
5th,  1823.  Dr.  Price  and  Mr.  Hough  and  wife  had  joined 
the  mission  during  Mrs.  Judson’s  absence,  and  Mr.  Judson 
awaited  her  return,  to  aid  Dr.  Price  in  the  establishment  of 
a  new  mission  at  Ava. 

A  week  later,  Messrs.  Wade  and  Hough,  with  their  wives, 
were  left  in  charge  of  the  mission  at  Rangoon,  where 
eighteen  converts  had  been  gathered.  The  New  Testament 
had  also  been  translated.  The  future  seemed  full  of  promise, 
and  they  settled  to  their  work  with  happy,  hopeful  hearts. 
A  few  quiet  months  passed  by,  and  then  the  shadows  of  war 
encompassed  them,  falling  first  upon  Rangoon,  and  afterward, 
as  the  army  passed  up  the  river,  bringing  long  and  fearful 


5 


suffering  to  the  friends  at  Ava.  Who,  that  reads  these  pages, 
does  not  know  its  terrible  story  ? 

u  The  war  had  its  origin,  in  feuds  which  had  long  existed 
on  the  frontiers  of  Chittagong,  and  which  were  unusually 
violent  among  the  Burmans,  on  account  of  their  jealousy  of 
the  wide  extension  of  British  power.”  These  culminated  in  / 
the  raising  of  a  large  army  by  the  King  of  Burma,  for  the 
invasion  of  Chittagong.  The  English  in  turn,  by  rapidly 
sending  a  fleet  to  the  Irrawady,  transferred  the  field  of  con¬ 
flict  to  their  own  territory. 

At  Rangoon,  the  arrival  of  the  English  fleet,  was  the  signal 
for  the  arrest,  by  the  Burman  power,  of  every  foreigner, 
lest  they  might  be  spies;  and  no  explanation  of  the  “  mission¬ 
aries,”  that  they  were  not  English,  but  Americans,  and  in  no 
way  connected  with  the  English  Government,  availed  them. 
Messrs.  Wade  and  Hough  were  seized  and  hurried  away  to 
bonds  and  imprisonment,  to  insult  and  threatened  death.  They 
escaped  the  last,  only  through  the  cowardice  of  their  keepers, 
who  stood  armed,  with  orders  to  behead  them  at  the  first  gun 
from  the  ships,  but  at  the  first  volley,  fled  in  terror.  Others 
took  their  places,  but  their  hands  were  stayed  from  their  pur¬ 
pose  in  the  same  way.  The  ladies  of  the  mission,  left  with¬ 
out  protection,  were  exposed  to  the  persecutions  of  their  mer¬ 
ciless  enemies,  and,  disguised  as  Burmans,  fled  from  place  to 
place,  hiding  from  their  pursuers.  They  found  shelter,  at 
last,  in  a  little  bamboo  shed,  out  of  sight  of  passers  by,  but 
within  range  of  the  English  guns.  Here  they  remained,  until 
the  sound  of  the  bugle,  assured  them  of  the  approach  of  Eng¬ 
lish  troops.  Throwing  aside  their  Burman  disguise,  they  has¬ 
tened  to  seek  their  protection,  for  they  had,  the  previous  day, 
seen  their  husbands  driven  at  the  point  of  the  spear  to  the 
place  of  execution,  and  supposed  them  no  longer  living. 
But  God  had  guarded  and  preserved,  and  soon  restored  them. 


6 


Mrs.  Wade,  writing  from  Calcutta,  whither  they  went  a 
few  months  later,  says: 

“  As  no  ship  had  arrived,  from  any  port,  we  had  no  knowledge  that 
war  was  declared,  until  the  English  fleet  appeared  in  the  river.  The 
scene  which  ensued,  can  not  be  described,  nor  ever  forgotten.  But  it 
was  allowed  by  a  kind,  indulgent  Father,  and  I  am  sure,  you  would, 
with  us,  more  than  ever,  adore  the  riches  of  Divine  grace,  could  you 
know  how  we  were  supported  through  the  most  trying  scenes.  The 
grace  of  God  was  sufficient  for  me.  I  did  not  in  the  least,  regret  that  I 
had  left  my  happy  home,  for  this  heathen  land  ;  I  was  confident  that 
God  had  marked  our  path  for  us,  and  that  He  owned  and  blessed  the 
sacrifice.  We  used  often  to  say,  we  would  be  Avilling  to  suffer  any  thing 
but  death,  if  the  English  would  take  Rangoon,  so  that  the  Burmans 
could  come  to  us  without  fear  of  Government. 

“  How  little  we  knew  what  awaited  us.  We  do  not,  however,  regret 
our  sufferings,  since  there  is  now  such  a  prospect  of  the  future  prosperity 
of  the  mission.” 

The  war  continued  for  two  years,  but  ended  with  the  pos¬ 
session  by  the  English,  of  Arracan,  and  the  Tennasserim 
provinces,  leaving  Rangoon  still  under  Burman  rule. 

The  English  headquarters  were  established  at  Amherst. 
Here  the  judsons  had  found  shelter,  under  English  protec¬ 
tion,  and  here,  in  Nov.,  1826,  the  Wades  came  from  Calcutta 
to  join  them.  They  found  the  mission  desolate.  Mr.  Jud- 
son  had  returned  to  Ava,  to  assist  in  making  a  treaty  of 
peace,  and,  in  his  absence,  Mrs.  Judson  had  built  her  a  bamboo 
house,  gathered  a  little  school  about  her,  and  then,  uncheered 
by  any  earthly  presence,  had  turned  a  month  before,  from  the 
toils  and  trials  of  earth,  to  the  rest  and  peace  of  heaven. 
Mrs.  Wade,  at  once,  reopened  the  school,  and  took  to  her 
arms,  and  to  her  loving  heart,  the  motherless  child  of  Mrs. 
Judson,  “on  whose  wasted  form  death  had  already  set  his 
seal.”  January  brought  back  the  bereaved  husband,  the  sor¬ 
rowing  father.  But  love  and  care  alike  were  vain,  and  in 
April,  the  little  one  rested  by  its  mother’s  side.  Truly  the 
mission  at  Amherst  “  was  laid  in  lowliness  of  spirit,  in  suffer¬ 
ing,  and  in  tears.” 


7 


Within  the  year,  Government  headquarters  were  removed 
twenty-five  miles  up  the  river,  to  Maulmain.  The  popula¬ 
tion  at  Amherst  at  once  declined,  and  the  missionaries  fol¬ 
lowed  the  Government,  and  made  Maulmain  the  second  mis¬ 
sionary  station  in  Burma. 

So  short  the  time,  and  yet,  Amherst  is  a  consecrated  spot, 
sacred,  for  the  treasures  buried  there,  hallowed  hy  the  precious 
friendships  cemented  in  those  hours  of  sorrow  and  disappoint¬ 
ment,  forever  glorified  by  the  wondrous  displays  of  Divine 
grace  that  were  the  fruitage  of  those  days  of  desolation. 

One  has  said,  “  It  is  doubtful,  if  any  one  can  do  his  noblest, 
or  think  his  deepest,  without  a  preparation  of  suffering,”  and 
surely  in  these  sad  months  at  Amherst,  u  amid  the  wreck  of 
ruined  hopes,”  God  was  preparing  these  three,  for  a  long 
united  work,  in  the  evangelization  of  Burma.  Henceforth, 
their  letters,  and  their  lives,  evince  a  spirit  of  more  entire 
consecration  of  everything  to  Christ,  a  closer  fellowship  with 
His  sufferings,  a  deeper  humility,  and  an  increased  devotion 
to  the  work  before  them. 

The  nature,  and  results  of  this  experience  in  Mrs.  Wade, 
can  be  best  understood  by  her  own  words,  in  a  letter  addressed 
in  March,  1830,  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Handy,  in  which  she  says: 

“  How  little  do  we  remember,  that  the  life  of  our  sorrowing ,  suffering , 
Saviour ,  is  given  us  as  a  pattern  for  our  lives.  If  we  will  begin  to  re¬ 
nounce  self-love,  and  the  world,  we  shall  then  also  begin  to  perceive 
something  of  the  Divine  mystery  of  the  cross,  by  which,  Paul  says,  ‘  I  am 
crucified  to  the  world,  and  the  world  unto  me.”  You  have,  no  doubt, 
perceived  by  our  letters,  that,  for  the  last  two  years,  our  minds  have 
been  very  deeply  and  solemnly  impressed  with  regard  to  a  holy  life. 

“  I  think  what  the  Bible  calls  the  love  of  God,  is  too  little  understood, 
and  still  less  felt,  by  many  Christians.  We  have  a  little  faith,  a  little 
repentance,  and  God  will  therefore  own  and  save  us,  for  the  sake  of  His 
dear  Son.  But  the  love  of  God,  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  union 
with  Christ,  and  all  those  higher  attainments,  which  are  the  privilege  of 
redeemed  souls,  are,  we  fear,  little  understood  by  those  whose  lives  are 
so  conformed  to  the  world.  I  am  convinced,  my  dear  sister,  that  if  we 
could  truly  renounce  the  world,  and,  disregarding  the  opinions  of  men, 


8 


just  look  upward,  and  make  it  our  daily  study  to  do  the  will  of  God  in 
all  things,  we  should,  by  the  rich  grace  of  Christ,  feel  that  sweet  peace 
in  our  minds  that  passeth  all  understanding,  and  that  assurance  of  adop¬ 
tion,  that  we  so  much  admire  in  the  Apostles  and  primitive  Christians. 

“Before  God  called  away  our  dear  sister  Judson,  I  had  followed  the 
example  of  other  missionaries,  without  special  thought  about  the  duty  of 
living  a  more  holy  life,  and  was  about  as  much  conformed  to  the  world 
as  when  in  America,  but  since  the  very  solemn  impressions  we  have  had 
upon  the  subject,  we  have  given  up  all  the  valuable  presents,  and  the 
little  money  we  could  call  our  own,  everything  that  is  not  necessary  to 
life  and  health.  I  should  not  feel  a  clear  conscience  if  I  had  a  single 
dress  laid  away  to  gratify  my  pride,  while  a  dollar  is  wanting  to  feed  the 
poor,  or  to  spread  the  glorious  gospel  through  the  world.” 

In  this  spirit  of  devotion,  the  mission  and  school  were  re¬ 
moved  to  Maulmain,  in  Nov.  1827.  Soon  eight  of  the  girls 
in  the  school  were  converted.  The  work  extended,  and  at 
the  close  of  1829  there  were  49  native  disciples. 

The  early  part  of  1830  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  at  Ran¬ 
goon,  strengthening  the  little  band  of  disciples  left  there,  at 
the  opening  of  the  war,  and  instructing  the  newly  appointed 
pastor,  Ko-thah-a.  At  its  close  they  were  again  at  Maulmain, 
with  rapidly  failing  health,  and  Mrs.  Wade  pleading  with 
her  physician  to  be  allowed  to  remain,  and  not  be  compelled 
to  ‘  leave  all  she  loves  below  the  skies,  and  run  away,’  as  he 
counselled  her  to  do. 

Two  years  of  fruitless  effort  to  restore  their  wasting  power 
amid  incessant  labors,  and  in  the  sultry  heat  of  India,  made 
evident  the  imperative  necessity  of  change  of  climate,  and 
after  ten  years  absence,  they  returned  to  their  own  land,  bring¬ 
ing  with  them  two  of  the  native  converts,  a  Burman  and  a 
Karen.  They  arrived  in  Boston  May  nth,  1833. 

There  are  some,  yet  living,  who  remember  that  home¬ 
coming,  and  the  year  of  blessed  awakening  to  the  cause  ot 
missions,  that  followed  in  our  American  churches.  The  long 
sea  voyage  had  greatly  benefited  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade, 
but,  at  the  request  of  the  Board,  they  remained  in  this  coun¬ 
try  until  the  following  year,  resting,  as  our  returned  mission- 


9 


aries  are  usually  allowed  to  do,  u  in  labors  more  abundant.” 

Eight  new  missionaries  were  already  under  appointment, 
and  a  school  for  the  study  of  the  Burmese  language,  under 
the  instruction  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  and  their  native  as¬ 
sistants,  was  opened  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y.  Besides  these 
duties,  they  met  a  large  convention  of  western  Baptists  in  the 
autumn  at  Cincinnati,  O.,  and  in  the  following  spring  made 
the  tour  of  the  Atlantic  cities,  as  far  as  Georgia.  In  these, 
and  other  cities,  Mrs.  Wade  addressed  large  meetings  of  ladies 
who  desired  to  hear  her,  but  for  whom  it  was  not  practicable 
to  obtain  a  personal  interview. 

In  neat,  but  inexpensive  attire,  she  stood  before  these 
audiences  of  the  gay  and  fashionable,  “  with  pleasant  voice 
and  a  face  beaming  with  Christian  affection,”  and  won  all 
hearts  by  the  simple  story  of  her  own  heart-felt  experiences. 
She  spoke  to  them  of  the  character  of  heathen  worship,  the 
degradation  of  heathen  women,  the  marvelous  change  wrought 
in  them  by  the  power  of  the  gospel,  the  increasing  facilities 
for  reaching  them  by  the  press,  also  of  the  pain  of  refusing  the 
call  for  books,  or  tracts,  (from  lack  of  means  to  print  them), 
that  would  show  them  the  way  to  be  saved.  This  was  fol¬ 
lowed  by  a  plea  to  American  women,  to  lay  aside  all  super¬ 
fluities  in  dress  and  living,  that  they  might  share  in  this 
blessed  work  for  Christ.  These  appeals,  sustained  by  her 
own  consecrated  life,  could  not  be  fruitless.  Useless  jewelry, 
and  other  adornings,  often,  in  those  years,  found  place  in 
missionary  collections,  and  many  learned  from  her  lips,  les¬ 
sons  that  never  were  forgotten. 

Their  visit  drew  near  its  close.  Their  presence,  and  earnest 
words,  had  given  an  impulse  to  missionary  zeal,  that  appeared 
in  larger  contributions,  and  in  a  more  confident  faith  in  the 
results  of  missionary  labor.  In  the  mission  stations,  their 
absence  had  been  keenly  felt,  and,  from  beyond  the  sea,  Mr. 


10 


Judson  wrote:  uMay  the  Lord  bring  safely  back,  my  dear¬ 
est,  best  beloved  brother  and  sister  Wade.” 

To  them,  the  romance  of  mission  life  was  past.  The 
morning-  mists  had  long-  since  been  lifted,  and  before  their 
unclouded  vision,  the  rugged  outline  of  their  field  of  toil,  lay 
stretched  out  before  them. 

Yet,  with  unswerving  purpose,  and  unfaltering  step,  aye, 
with  great  longing  of  heart,  they  girded  themselves  anew  for 
the  service,  “  counting  it  all  joy  ”  to  bear  Christ’s  message  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth. 


MID-DAY. 


“  Girt  with  the  love  of  God  on  every  side, 

Breathing  that  love  as  Heaven’s  own  healing  air, 
I  work,  or  wait,  still  following  my  guide, 

Braving  each  foe,  escaping  every  snare.” 


The  brig  “Cashmere”  left  Boston,  July  2d,  1S34,  with  the 
largest  company  of  missionaries  that  had  yet  been  sent  out  by 
the  “  Baptist  Convention.”  Messrs.  Dean,  Vinton,  Howard, 
and  Comstock,  with  their  wives,  Osgood,  a  printer,  and  wife, 
and  Miss  Ann  P.  Gardner,  afterward  Mrs.  Abbott,  accom¬ 
panied  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  and  their  native  converts,  making 
a  company  of  Christians  numbering  fifteen. 

Of  the  ocean  passage  Mrs.  Wade  wrote,  Nov.  1 8th : 

“We  have  been  now  nearly  five  months  tossing  on  these  rolling  bil¬ 
lows,  and  fear  it  may  be  three  or  four  weeks  more  before  we  reach  the 
shores  of  Burma.  We  have  had  on  the  whole,  a  pleasant  voyage,  and 
much  cause  for  thankfulness.  We  have  regular  service  every  Sabbath, 
two  weekly  prayer  meetings,  a  Bible  class,  and  evening  worship,  all  in 
the  large  dining  saloon,  and  attended  by  the  officers  and  crew,  and  happy, 
happy  seasons  we  have  enjoyed.  You  will  readily  imagine  that  fifteen 
persons,  all  setting  out  to  spend  their  lives  in  a  heathen  land,  would  be 
very  happy  in  each  other’s  society.  This  has  been  our  privilege,  but 
what  is  more,  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit  has  been  poured  out,  our  souls 
have  been  made  to  rejoice  in  God,  and  several  have  been  brought  into 
His  kingdom.  Truly  we  have  been  ‘sitting  in  heavenly  places,’  and  thus, 
I  trust,  preparing  for  our  work  among  the  heathen.” 

Dating:  from  the  Indian  Ocean,  she  wrote  of  the  kind  atten- 
tion  received  in  Boston  from  Mrs.  Haven,  and  others,  and  of 
the  preparation  made  by  them  for  their  comfort  during  the 
voyage,  of  u  several  good  strong  gingham  dresses  ”  that  were 
given  her,  more  expensive  ones  having  been  declined.  Dur¬ 
ing  her  stay  in  America  many  gifts  had  come  to  her  for  her 
own  personal  use,  but  her  wants  were  few,  her  outfit  simple, 


1 


rl2 

and  two  hundred  dollars  went  into  the  mission  treasury,1 “and,’* 
she  said,  “  the  thought  that  this  money  will  purchase  many 
Bibles  and  tracts,  for  those  who  never  heard  of  a  Savior,  gives 
me  more  pleasure  than  all  I  ever  enjoyed  of  the  pleasures  and 
vanities  of  the  world.”  Mr.  Wade  was  able  also  to  give  a 
considerable  sum.  “  I  trust  the  time  will  never  come,  that  we 
shall  want  a  single  dollar  to  lay  aside  and  call  our  own.  I 
have  been  very  much  afraid  that  my  visit  to  America  might 
tempt  me  to  love  the  world  and  want  more  of  it,  and  that  the 
kindness  of  friends  might  puff  me  up,  to  think  I  am  something 
when  I  am  nothing.  I  think,  however,  the  Lord  has  enabled 
me  generally  to  4  lie  low,’  and  I  am  sure  I  never  before  felt  so 
deep  hatred  of  myself  on  account  of  sin,  as  since  I  came  on 
board  this  ship.” 

« 

December  brought  them  again  to  Maulmain,  but  their  work 
waited  them  elsewhere.  Tavoy,  one  hundred  and  forty  miles 
down  the  coast,  and  thirty  miles  up  the  Tavoy  river  from  the 
sea,  was  the  third  center  of  missionary  efFort.  Here  Board- 
man  and  his  wife  with  four  boys  from  the  school  at  Maulmain 
had  gone  in  1828.  Here  he  labored  and  died  crowned  with 
success.  Mrs.  Boardman  had  remained  until  April,  1834, 
when  she  left  as  the  wife  of  Dr.  Judson,  and  here,  early  in 
1835,  the  Wades  w^ere  welcomed  by  Mr.  aud  Mrs.  Mason. 
Before  his  visit  to  America,  Mr.  Wade  had  reduced  to  writing 
the  Sgau,  one  of  the  Karen  dialects,  and  now  he  gave  his 
time  to  the  same  work  for  the  Pwos,  and,  assisted  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mason,  began  the  preparation  of  books  and  tracts  and 
Bible  translations  in  both  languages. 

On  Mrs.  Wade,  meantime,  rested  the  care  of  the  Karen 
schools  in  Tavoy.  These  included  day-schools  that  were  in 
part  supported  by  the  Government,  boarding  schools  for  the 
Karen  children  from  the  jungle,  and  a  normal-school  for  the 
training  of  teachers  and  preachers.  For  this  work  she  was 


*3 


specially  fitted,  as  she  spoke  the  language,  and  having  no  child¬ 
ren  of  her  own,  she  took  to  her  heart  these  children  of  the 
Karens  and  native  Christians,  and  found  in  the  work  a  mutual 
blessing.  Thirteen  years  of  noiseless  labor  followed,  in  which 
she  cared  for  these  schools  during  the  rains  from  April  to 
October,  and  in  the  dry  season  visited  the  jungles  with  her 
husband. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  were  the  first  to  visit  the  Karen  villages 
of  Mergui  with  the  gospel;  and  a  more  interesting  reception 
than  was  given  them  there,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine.  They 
were  led  by  an  intelligent  chief,  now  a  pillar  in  the  church, 
and  were  met  on  their  arrival  by  several  young  women,  whom 
he  had  invited,  among  others,  to  meet  them,  singing  a  hymn, 
of  which  the  first  verse  and  chorus  was: 

“  The  Lord,  His  messengers  doth  send, 

And  He  Himself  will  quickly  come  ; 

The  priests  cf  Boodh,  whose  reign  is  short, 

Must  leave  the  place  to  make  them  room.” 

Several  villages  of  converted  Karens,  had  been  gathered, 
and  taught  habits  of  cleanliness  and  industry.  Some  of  these 
were  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Tavoy  river,  and  were 
comparatively  easy  of  access.  The  most  flourishing  of  these 
villages  was  u  in  the  midst  of  a  luxurious  plain,”  beyond  al¬ 
most  inaccessible  mountains,  two  days’  journey  from  Tavoy, 
and  could  only  be  reached  on  foot.  This  is  Mata  so  charm¬ 
ingly  sketched  by  Mrs.  Chaplin,  in  “  Our  Gold  Mine.”  The 
long  walk  “  where  no  horse  could  penetrate,  the  narrow  path 
over  steep  cliffs,  the  repose  at  night  in  the  open  air,  that  these 
mountain  homes  might  be  taught  the  way  of  salvation;  and 
the  group  of  disciples  who  had  come  out  to  meet  the  teachers, 
encircling  them  during  hours  of  sleep,  lest  danger  come  to 
them,  make  a  beautiful  picture  of  unselfish  service,  both  in  the 
Christian  teacher  and  the  Christian  convert. 

The  Sabbath  morning  at  Mata  was  spent  in  preaching  and 


H 


administering  the  ordinances,  then^came  Bible  study,  visiting 
the  sick,  and  meetings  for  prayer.  The  next  morning  the 
Missionaries  pass  on  to  visit  other  villages  scattered  among 
the  mountains,  and  Mata  is  left  in  the  care  of  Mrs.  Wade. 

For  eight  years  she  watched  over  their  interests  alone,  and 
her  own  pen  thus  outlines  her  work:  “A  meeting  at  the  Zayat, 
every  morning  at  sunrise,  the  care  of  a  school  of  seventy 
pupils,  administering  to  the  sick,  instructing  the  Karen  sisters, 
and  watching  over  the  church  as  well  as  I  am  able  in  Mr. 
Wade’s  absence,  occupies  my  time  the  few  months  I  am  there.” 
Added  to  this,  were  the  Sabbath  Bible  readings  and  explana¬ 
tions  to  the  hundreds  of  Karens  that,  every  Sabbath,  listened 
with  eager  interest  to  her  words.  Many  were  converted,  and 
every  year  when  Mr.  Wade  returned  he  found  numbers  desir¬ 
ing  baptism. 

By  the  marriage  and  removal  of  Miss  Gardner,  in  1837,  and 
Mrs.  Mason’s  return  to  America,  the  following  year,  the  Ta- 
voy  schools  engrossed  still  more  of  Mrs.  Wade’s  time  during 
the  rains,  and  the  girl’s  school  was  for  a  time  relinquished. 
A  letter  written  to  Mrs.  O’Brien,  in  April,  1840,  explains 
itself.  Mrs.  Mason  had  returned  to  Burma  without  addi¬ 
tional  helpers,  and  Mrs.  Wade  wrote: 

“  At  last  I  am  left  to  labor  in  the  female  and  school  department  entire¬ 
ly  alone.  So  I  try  to  teach  the  hoys  and  young  preachers,  as  ’well  as  I 
can,  and  get  Mr.  Wade,  and  Mr.  Mason,  to  devote  a  little  time.,  daily,  to 
the  preachers,  while  my  poor  girls  must  be  left  in  the  jungles  all  the 
best  time  in  the  year  for  shidy.  One  and  another  of  them  write,  ‘The 
tears  run  down  my  eyes,  when  I  think  of  mama,  and  that  I  can  not  see 
her  all  these  long  rains.’  So  tears,  most  bitter  tears,  run  down  my  cheeks, 
as  I  look  hack  to  my  dear  native  land,  and  see  so  many  who  might  come 
and  help  us,  without  the  least  hope  that  any  help  will  be  sent.  But  I  am 
not  so  depressed  as  to  hinder  my  w  ork.  To  see  precious  souls  converted, 
and  Christ  thus  glorified,  prevents  my  longing  intensely  to  depart,  and 
be  with  Him.  When,  however,  on  account  of  sickness,  1  think  it  maybe 
the  will  of  God  to  call  me,  my  mind  is  filled  with  inexpressible  joy.  O! 
to  be  with  Christ,  and  to  be  like  Him.  I  know-He  can  fill  my  place  with 
others  who  can  do  this  delightful  work  far  better  than  I  have  ever  done 
it.  So  J  have  only  to  wait  until  it  is  His  good  pleasure  to  call  me  home. 


*5 


“  Our  prospects  continue  very  interesting.  During  the  last  five 
months,  twenty-five  Karens  have  been  baptized  here;  and  at  Mergui, 
five  Burmans  are  waiting  baptism.  Is  not  this  encouraging?  At  Mata, 
sixteen  of  our  beloved  pupils  were  baptized  at  one  time,  just  before  w  e 
left,  in  March  last.  All  of  them  had  been  converted  a  year  or  more. 
Don’t  you  think  I  was  very  happy,  sitting  on  the  banks  of  this  lovely 
stream,  to  see  them  follow  Christ  in  this  precious  ordinance?  And 
what  do  you  fancy  were  my  thoughts  as  I  sat  there.  First,  ‘Nowwe  live 
if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord,’  and  then,  How  will  all  these  dear  pupils 
adorn  the  triumphs  of  Christ,  when  He  comes,  with  power  and  great 
glory.  The  thought  of  Christ’s  coming  to  be  glorified  by  His  saints, 
and  admired  by  all  them  that  believe,  has  been  exceedingly  sweet  to  me.” 

The  mountain  visits  were  often  attended  with  sickness,  and 
in  1843,  s^e  wr°te: 

“  I  think  it  very  probable  that  my  next  excursion  may  prove  fatal.  A 
dreadful  fever  followed  my  last  trip  to  the  river  villages,  though  Mr. 
Wade  was  with  me,  and  every  thing  was  made  easy,  and  yet,  I  think  I 
shall  get  a  little  strength,  and  try  it  again.  How  can  I  help  it?  Mr. 
Wade  is  delicate  at  best,  and  is  sure  to  get  sick  if  I  am  not  with  him, 
and  we  have  six  hundred  baptised  and  asking  for  baptism,  to  look  after. 
Mr.  Mason  is  also  feeble,  and  none  of  the  others  can  speak  Karen.” 

In  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  copies  of  the  Mother's 
Journal ,  sent  by  Mrs.  Talmage,  of  New  York,  she  says: 

“The  fevers  contracted  by  living  in  the  jungles,  traveling  over  the 
mountains  on  foot,  sleeping  on  the  ground,  etc.,  have  so  reduced  my 
strength  that  I  am  often  able  to  do  little  more  than  to  recline  on  a  lounge, 
and  amuse  myself  with  a  book.  You  will  recollect,  invalids  in  heathen 
lands  have  to  be  mostly  alone,  for  it  would  be  a  double  affliction  to  take 
the  time  of  any  one,  when  there  is  so  much  to  do.  I  have  not  been  al¬ 
lowed  to  go  into  the  jungle  at  all  this  year,  so  the  books  have  been  in¬ 
valuable,  during  the  loneliness  and  fever  while  Mr.  Wade  is  absent.  I 
have  the  comfort  of  a  fine  girls’  school  around  me.  I  can  teach  but 
little,  but  it  prospers  under  my  Karen  assistants,  with  aid  from  sisters 
Mason  and  Bennett.  While  our  husbands  were  in  the  jungles,  we  had  a 
meeting  for  the  school  which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  eleven  pupils.” 

At  her  first  visit  to  Mata,  Mrs.  Wade  organized  a  “Mater¬ 
nal  Association”  of  sixty  members.  At  the  end  of  eight 
years,  more  than  a  hundred  of  the  children  of  these  mothers 
had  been  converted.  Her  own  experience  had  strengthened 
her  faith  in  prayer,  and  in  the  early  conversion  of  children. 
Her  love  embraced  alike,  those  under  her  own  care,  the  chil¬ 
dren  of  her  missionary  sisters,  and  the  home  friends  across  the 
ocean.  To  one  of  these  last  she  wrote: 


i6 


“  Not  being  a  mother  myself,  I  felt  the  need  of  helps,  in  training  the 
numbers  of  Karen  children  under  my  care,  and  your  present  was  very 
acceptable.  I  would  like  to  hear  from  you  again,  with  a  particular  ac¬ 
count  of  children  converted  in  your  association,  and  what  means  have 
been  most  blessed.  This  will  help  me.  I  want  to  know  whether  you 
find  God  a  prayer  answering  God.  If  not,  what,  think  you,  are  the  rea¬ 
sons  you  do  not  receive  the  fulfillment  of  His  rich  promises  to  us?  Can 
we  offer  effectual  prayer  without  His  spirit  in  our  hearts  ?  Will  the 
blessed  Spirit  abide  with  us,  unless  we  submit  our  wills  entirely  to  God’s 
will?  Should  any  one  come  in  this  spirit,  and  trust  God’s  promises  in 
simple  faith,  do  you  think  God’s  word  would  fail?” 

Again,  she  says: 

“It  is  now  three  years  since  I  visited  my  dear  Mata  home.  But  I  hear 
from  the  mother’s  meetings  that  are  held  every  week,  and  every  year  a 
goodly  number  are  added  to  the  church.  There  is  one  object  for  which 
I  beg  the  prayers  of  your  Association,  and  the  tears  fall  as  I  ask  it,  it  is 
that  we  missionary  sisters  may  be  permitted  to  present  to  Christ  at  His 
glorious  coming  all  the  dear  children  whom  God  has  given  us.  There 
'is  now  a  lovely  number  of  them,  and  most  of  them  must  be  trained  by 
those  who  cannot  love  as  a  mother  loves.  But,  I  do  expect  every  one  of 
them  will  be  made  a  precious  jewel  to  adorn  the  Savior’s  crown.  And 
why?  Because  I  have  never  heard  such  persevering,  agonizing  prayer 
as  from  these  missionary  mothers.” 

To  Mrs.  I.  M.  Allen,  she  writes,  in  the  year  1845: 

“Your  notes  and  books  have  been  kindly  welcomed.  The  care  of  so 
many  Karen  children,  who  have  never  known  subjection  to  parental 
authority,  has  made  me  deeply  solicitous  as  to  my  best  course  with  them. 
Self-government  seems,  here,  for  young  and  old,  our  best  recourse.  I 
have  been  surpised  and  delighted  at  the  readiness,  with  which  very 
young  children  may  be  induced  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  breaking  up 
bad  habits.  Children  must  be  made  to  feel  that  the  responsibility  is 
theirs.  Others  may  teach  or  direct,  but  they  alone  must  do  the  work. 
Then,  if  they  fail,  or  get  discouraged,  as  they  will  at  first,  time  and  atten¬ 
tion  and  sympathy  must  be  given,  and  help  to  form  resolutions,  and  ex¬ 
ert  greater  watchfulness.” 

To  a  missionary  sister: 

“  I  have  been  thinking  of  your  two  oldest  children  for  a  few  days  past. 
They  are  old  enough  to  give  their  hearts  understandingly  to  the  Savior. 
How  would  you  feel  if  Eddy  was  now  called  away  without  having  an 
evidence  that  he  had  been  born  again?  I  have  thought,  lately,  more 
than  usual  of  the  children  of  missionaries,  because  I  have  been  laboring 
for  the  conversion  of  some  of  my  Karen  pupils.  Three  weeks  ago,  I 
began  to  speak  to  some  of  them,  and  six  came  forward  and  said,  they 
‘  wished  to  get  a  new  heart  now,’  but  two  of  the  finest  and  most  intelli¬ 
gent  boys,  said  frankly,  they  ‘would  rather  play  now,  and  wait  till  the 


*7 


dry  season.’  I  told  them  they  could  do  as  they  liked,  that  giving  the 
heart  to  God  was  entirely  between  themselves  and  Him,  and  I  began  my 
little  meeting  with  six,  and  prayed  also  for  them.  The  next  day  they 
came  and  begged  to  attend  the  meetings.  The  two  Sabbaths  following 
were  observed  with  them  as  a  solemn  fast,  with  prayer.  At  the  end  of 
three  weeks,  all  hope  that  their  sins  are  forgiven,  and  that  God’s  Spirit 
is  abiding  with  them.  One  who  was  converted  two  years  ago,  said  that 
his  heart  was  cold,  and  he  wished  to  come,  and  thinks  he  has  received 
greater  strength  to  overcome  sin  than  ever  before.  Of  course,  we  never 
think  ot  baptizing  such  children  until  they  return  to  the  jungle,  and  give 
evidence  of  a  new  life  at  home,  but  from  careful  observation  for  ten 
years,  I  think  the  large  number  of  Karen  children  converted  through 
such  efforts,  have  given  as  good  evidence  as  other  converts.” 

To  a  friend  in  Maulmain,  she  wrote: 

“  The  doctor  says,  a  year  or  two  in  a  cold  climate  is  the  only  remedy 
for  fever  and  the  debility  thus  induced.  Can  it  be  my  duty  to  do  any 
such  thing  as  that,  in  the  present  state  of  the  funds  of  the  Board,  especi¬ 
ally  as  there  are  so  many  bereaved  brethren  and  motherless  babes  to  go? 
I  want  to  know  the  will  of  God,  and  am  ready  to  do  any  thing  or  go 
any  where  He  shall  direct.  The  upward  prospect  is  glorious,  and,  it 
seems,  the  summons  at  any  time  will  cause  joy  inexpressible.  If  our 
faint  glimpses  of  that  glory  are  so  enrapturing  to  the  soul,  what  must  it 
be  to  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Infinite  love!  Your  remarks  upon  that  rest 
filled  my  eyes  with  grateful  joy.  Why  should  you  not  my  dear  brother 
and  sister,  enter  the  land  of  Beulah  and  dwell  there? 

“  How  ardent  must  be  your  feelings  for  dear  A.,  now  she  is  getting  so 
large  and  intelligent.  Have  you  ever  set  your  hearts  upon  a  time,  and 
prepared  yourselves  and  her  for  it,  and  then  labored  for  her  immediate 
conversion,  as  Jacob  wrestled,  on  that  night  never  to  be  forgotten  while 
the  world  stands?  Such  have  been  the  means  which  have  been  blessed 
to  my  Karen  pupils,  for  several  years  past,  and  the  tears  come  unbidden, 
as  I  glance  back  to  scenes  in  the  jungle,  where  my  room  seemed  the 
gate  of  heaven,  and  the  immediate  presence  of  the  triune  God  has  filled 
me 

‘  With  that  sacred  awe  that  dared  not  move, 

And  all  the  silent  heaven  of  love.’” 

While  still  hoping  to  get  strength  to  visit  her  pupils  again 
in  their  mountain  homes,  a  new  trial  came  to  them.  Mr. 
Wade,  who  for  four  years  had  visited  the  river  villages  with¬ 
out  her,  found  his  sight  failing,  and  his  physician  counseled 
entire  rest  of  mind  and  eyes,  as  his  only  hope  of  escape  from 
total  blindness.  Of  this,  in  Aug.,  1846,  Mrs.  Wade  said: 

“  Since  my  recovery  from  those  frequent  attacks  of  fever,  induced  by 
living  in  the  jungle  villages,  we  have  indulged  in  the  fond  hope  of  being 


2 


i8 


permitted  to  spend  our  lives  with  these  eight  hundred  precious  disciples, 
and  now  that  brother  Mason’s  health  has  failed,  it  is  doubly  trying  to 
think  of  leaving  our  station.  Mr.  Wade  is  extremely  reluctant  to  leave 
before  he  has  finished  his  vocabulary,  but  the  doctor  says,  there  is  not  the 
least  hope  of  recovery  in  this  climate,  and  another  year’s  residence  here 
might  deprive  him  of  sight  entirely.” 

In  December,  Mr.  Wade  once  more  visited  Ta  ville  and 
Newville,  the  river  villages  north  of  Tavoy.  The  meetings 
were  very  solemn.  The  whole  year  had  been  a  “  season  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,”  and  at  these  meet¬ 
ings,  special  power  seemed  to  come,  in  answer  to  prayer.  “No 
preaching  or  exhortations  seemed  to  reach  the  hearts  of  the 
people  as  did  the  supplications  and  confession  of  sin,  when  all 
were  bowed  in  supplication  to  God.”  Sixteen  were  baptized. 
A  visit  to  Mata  was  to  have  followed,  but  neither  Mr.  Wade 
or  Mr.  Mason  were  able  to  climb  the  mountains,  and  a  meet¬ 
ing  was  at  length  arranged  at  the  base  on  the  Tavoy  side, 
where  Mr.  Boardman  finished  his  labors,  with  the  hope  that 
Mrs.  Wade  might  be  able  to  be  present.  That  hope  was  illu¬ 
sive.  The  Karens  entered  heartily  into  the  plan,  but  before 
they  had  completed  the  necessary  preparations,  Mr.  Mason 
was  obliged  to  try  the  benefit  of  a  sea-voyage,  and  Mrs.  Wade 
to  remain  at  her  Tavoy  home,  while  Mr.  Wade,  borne  in  a 
chair,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Cross,  set  out  alone.  We  quote 
from  Mr.  Wade’s  journal. 

“We  started  at  an  early  hour,  and  before  sunset,  one  party  of  Karens 
after  another  came  out  to  meet  us,  but  were  sadly  disappointed  not  to  see 
Mrs.  Wade,  as  they  had  hoped.  Many,  in  feeble  health,  and  others,  too 
old  to  think  of  enduring  the  fatigue  of  crossing  the  mountains,  had  made 
a  great  effort  to  do  so,  that  they  might  once  more  enjoy  the  privilege  of 
seeing  their  beloved  ‘  mama,’  as  they  called  her.  They  bore  the  disap¬ 
pointment  in  silence,  but  their  looks  showed,  better  than  words  can  ex¬ 
press,  how  truly  and  sincerely  they  loved  her,  who  had  taken  those  long 
wearisome  journeys,  and  climbed  those  rugged  mountains  eight  years 
in  succession,  to  teach  them  and  their  children  the  way  to  heaven.  It 
was  a  very  busy  time  in  the  rice  fields,  but  nearly  two  hundred  assembled 
on  Thursday,  and  remained  until  the  meetings  closed  on  Monday 
evening,” 


l9 


Nothing  now  remained  but  the  preparations  for  departure. 
Twenty-five  years  of  toil  and  exile  were  past.  The  vigor  of 
their  life  had  been  given  to  Christ’s  work  in  foreign  lands,  and 
now  they  were  going  home  to  Christian  America.  Worn 
and  sick,  ’tis  true,  but  loving  hearts  were  waiting  to  receive 
them.  Care  and  comfort,  and  love  and  rest,  were  before  them. 
Did  not  their  pulses  thrill  with  joy  at  the  delightful  thought? 
Ah!  home  is  where  the  heart  is,  and  theirs  were  in  the  Mas¬ 
ter’s  work  in  Burma,  in  Tavoy.  Exquisitely  tender  and 
pathetic  is  the  story  of  the  decision  and  the  leave  taking  as 
penned  by  Mr.  Wade.  He  tells  us  of  the  decision  made  by 
the  brethren  of  the  mission,  which,  though  blindness  threat¬ 
ened,  they  felt  that  they  could  not  make  themselves,  of  their 
own  sorrow,  of  the  Karens  who  came  to  mourn  with  them, 
and  adds: 

“  At  length  the  hour  of  parting  came.  We  commended  the  mission 
and  each  other  to  God,  gave  each  other  a  tremulous  hand,  and  sighed, 
Farewell.  At  Maulmain  we  were  detained  four  weeks.  We  did  not  re¬ 
gret  it.  We  loved  to  linger  on  missionary  fields.  It  also  gave  us  a  precious 
season  of  intercourse  with  precious  friends.  There  was  Dr.  Judson,  who 
had  resided  for  years  in  our  family,  and  we  had  but  one  heart  in  mission 
work.  There  was  brother  Mason,  with  whom  we  had  been  most  happily 
associated  for  thirteen  years.  There  were  Burmese  Christians,  the  fruit 
of  early  labors  in  Maulmain.  There  were  other  brethren  and  sisters 
whom  we  dearly  loved,  but  the  time  came  for  us  to  depart.  We  gathered 
at  the  mercy  seat,  commended  each  other  to  God  in  prayer,  and  moved 
to  the  wharf.  It  seemed  much  like  our  own  funeral  procession.  Soon, 
the  scene  changed.  Every  loved  one  had  disappeared,  and  we  were 
launched  on  the  broad  ocean,  with  the  one  cheerful  consideration,  ‘  Such 
is  the  will  of  God.’  ” 

They  left  Maulmain,  December,  1847,  anc^  reac^e<^  Boston, 
via  St.  Helena,  July  31st,  1848. 


EVENTIDE. 


“  Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee 
All  thy  scenes,  I  love  them  well  ; 

Yet  I  hasten  froiji  you  gladlj', 

Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell. 

Pleased  I  say,  Farewell,  Farewell.” 

Two  years  fled  on  rapid  wing.  Years  of  quiet  rest  with 
cherished  friends,  in  pleasant  Christian  homes.  Much  of  the 
time  had  been  spent  in  the  family  of  her  sister,  the  home  also 
of  her  aged  mother.  The  questions  that  had  burdened  their 
hearts  were  being  solved.  “  Have  we  strength  to  bear  the 
long  journey  home,”  they  had  asked,  “and  will  our  health,  at 
our  time  of  life,  be  so  improved  by  the  change,  that  it  will  be 
thought  advisable  to  send  us  back  again?”  The  desire  of  their 
heart  had  been  granted  them,  and,  though  their  sun  had  passed 
its  meridian  to  life’s  western  slope,  they  turned  with  youthful 
ardor  to  their  chosen  field  of  toil  once  more. 

The  meetings  of  the  Union  held  at  Buffalo,  in  1850,  were 
of  exceeding  interest.  The  presence  of  four  new,  and  four 
returning  missionaries  and  their  wives,  added  much  to  this 
interest,  and  the  last  half  day  will  be  remembered  as  one  of 
the  most  tender  and  soul-subduing,  in  which  we  are  permitted 
in  this  world  to  engage.  During  the  meeting,  Mrs.  Wade 
addressed  an  audience  of  ladies  for  the  last  time.  It  was  a 
season  to  be  long  remembered. 

In  1829,  Mr.  Judson  wrote,  at  Maulmain: 

“I  have  been  engaged  in  revision.  Brother  and  Sister  Wade  have 
done  all  the  itinerating,  and  many  interesting  tales  they  tell  at  evening, 
though  I  believe  they  put  very  little  on  paper.” 

This  is  characteristic.  Their  life  was  filled  with  noiseless 


21 


labor  for  souls,  and  at  this  last  visit,  so  far  as  possible,  Mrs. 
Wade  secured  the  destruction  of  all  her  letters,  saying,  that 
her  poor  work  was  not  worth  recalling  after  she  was  gone  to 
rest.  Scarcely  a  half  dozen  escaped,  so  that  the  story  of  her 
early  life  has  been  gleaned  largely  from  items  already  in  print. 
For  the  remaining  years  we  turn  less  to  official  reports,  and 
more  to  the  overflowing  of  a  heart  full  of  tender  sympathy, 
in  the  confidences  of  personal  friendship. 

Seventeen  missionaries  left  our  shores  in  company,  July  25, 
1850,  on  the  “  Washington  Allston,”  and  reached  Maulmain, 
January  22d,  1851.  Mrs.  Wade  wrote  on  board  ship,  to  her 
sister: 

“  O !  how  does  my  heart  cling  with  love  inexpressible  to  that  sweet 
precious  home,  we  were  permitted  so  highly  to  enjoy  during  our  stay  in 
our  dear  native  land.  Often  do  1  think  of  you  all,  one  by  one,  and  my 
heart  rises  in  gratitude  to  God  for  the  blessing  of  such  friends  here,  and 
the  brighter  prospect  of  living  with  you  all  together  in  heaven.  But, 
should  the  dear  girls  fail  of  reaching  that  happy  place.  O !  how  could 
we  enjoy  the  bright  glories  of  Heaven  without  them?  And  yet,  we 
know  we  should  all  say  amen  to  the  righteous  sentence  ‘  Depart’  if  they 
should  choose  this  vain  world  for  their  portion,  after  the  Savior  has 
given  His  precious  life  to  redeem  them.  We  regretted  our  long  deten¬ 
tion  at  the  Cape,  as  we  all  felt  anxious  to  reach  the  field  of  our  labors. 
Poor  sister  Bronson  buried  her  sweet  little  babe  there.  I  think  I  told 
you  that  brethren  Vinton  and  Kincaid,  and  their  families,  nine  in  all, 
have  left  our  ship,  and  taken  passage  in  a  fine  English  steamer  for  Cal¬ 
cutta.  We  were  strongly  advised  to  do  the  same,  but  we  felt  very  re¬ 
luctant  to  take  the  money  so  much  needed  for  the  poor  heathen,  for  our 
own  comfort,  so  we  concluded  to  buy  such  things  as  would  have  saved 
our  health  at  first,  and  go  on,  hoping  for  the  best.  Thus  far  we  have 
reason  to  be  satisfied.” 

The  mission  at  Tavoy  had  been  reinforced  during  their  ab¬ 
sence,  and  now,  on  their  return,  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Bur- 
man  church  in  Maulmain  was  transferred  to  Mr.  Wade.  The 
change  was  suitable,  as  devolving  on  him  relations,  and  duties, 
becoming  his  seniority  in  age,  and  his  standing  in  the  Burmese 
mission.  Owing  to  the  unsettled  pastoral  relations  of  the 
church  for  several  years,  its  condition  required  careful  investi¬ 
gation,  and  eight  were  excluded. 


22 


In  July,  Mrs.  Wade  wrote: 

“  Do  not  think  my  pleasant  visit  home,  has  destroyed  my  missionary 
spirit.  I  was  never  more  interested  in  the  work  than  now.  Mr.  Wade 
has  charge  of  a  church  numbering  one  hundred  and  thirty,  besides  a 
branch  of  thirty  or  forty  at  Amherst,  twenty-five  miles  away.  It  is  com¬ 
posed  of  Burmans,  as  the  Karens  live  in  the  interior.  He  holds  seven 
meetings  every  week,  besides  visits,  and  has  the  care  of  seven  Burman 
preachers,  who  go  daily  preaching  the  gospel  through  the  city  and  sur¬ 
rounding  villages.  Two  of  them  are  supported  by  the  church,  who 
keep  their  chapel  lighted,  cleaned,  and  in  repair,  and  support  the  poor 
among  the  disciples,  they  do  this  cheerfully,  though  most  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  are  very  poor. 

“The  work  here  is  not  so  trying  to  health,  as  traveling  in  the  jungles, 
and  we  feel  that  a  kind  providence  has  marked  our  lot.  My  health  has 
improved  very  much,  since  the  rainy  season  closed.  I  am  happy  to  be 
able  to  do  more  now,  than  at  any  time  since  our  return.  I  have  a  female 
prayer  meeting  every  Wednesday,  a  Bible  class  on  the  Sabbath,  enquirers 
every  forenoon,  visiting  the  sick,  etc.,  and,  every  morning,  I  rise  just  as 
the  day  begins  to  dawn,  and,  with  my  little  lantern,  walk  some  distance 
to  the  Burman  chapel,  where  I  meet  a  band  of  Burmese  sisters  for  prayer. 
After  we  had  offered  our  united  prayers  about  a  month,  enquirers  began 
to  come  in.  I  am  very  happy  in  my  work,  and  have  now  four  in  my 
morning  meetings,  that  I  feel  the  Lord  has  given  me  as  my  spiritual 
children.  I  have  already  my  hundred  fold  for  coming  back  to  Burma. 
We  both  see  the  hand  of  the  Lord  helping  us  through  our  trials  as  a 
church.  Our  last  communion  was  a  blessed  season.” 

“Jan.  nth,  1852.  We  have  prospect  of  war  again.  Mr.  Kincaid  and 
family  had  to  flee  from  Rangoon  and  live  on  board  ship.” 

“21st.  Fighting  has  commenced.  All  foreigners  have  left  Rangoon. 
Mr.  Kincaid  and  family,  seven  in  all,  are  with  us,  and  will  go  to  house¬ 
keeping  on  this  side  the  river,  till  things  are  more  settled  in  Rangoon.” 

“  Our  dear  sister  Bennett  has  been  staying  with  us  the  last  three 
months,  preparing  to  take  her  last  child  to  America,  and  then,  to  leave 
all  her  seven  children,  and  come  back  alone  to  her  husband  and  her  work. 
Could  you,  dear  sister,  do  as  much  for  Christ?” 

“May  14th.  Thirteen  have  been  baptized  since  we  came  here.  In  my 
last,  I  mentioned  the  war  between  the  English  and  the  Burmans.  We 
have  been  mercifully  protected  from  all  harm,  and  are  now  better  guarded 
by  troops,  and  we  hope  the  way  is  opening  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
through  all  Burma.  Here,  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  life,  we  often 
think  of  the  last  war,  with  all  its  terrors,  and  of  the  years  of  privation 
and  suffering  that  followed,  and  are  very  thankful  that  our  path  is  made 
so  easy  in  outward  things,  now,  in  our  declining  years.  I  wish  you 
could  look  into  my  front  room.  Every  body  says  I  make  my  home  look 
very  cheerful,  though  my  furniture  is  very  cheap  and  plain.  My  floor  is 
much  rougher  and  blacker  than  your  kitchen,  but  it  looks  clean,  and  my 
plain  cherry  table  is  bright  with  pretty  pots  of  flowers,  books,  maps,  etc. 


23 


The  melodeon  on  one  side,  a  small  covered  table  on  the  other,  two  plain 
cherry  stands  in  corners,  hold  two  Burmese  bound  boxes,  and  a  few 
chairs  make  the  room  very  pleasant  without  carpet,  or  rug,  or  curtain.” 

The  war  closed  in  December,  1852,  with  the  annexa¬ 
tion  of  Pegu  to  British  India,  and  united  in  one  continuous 
sea-board  of  British  possessions,  Arracan,  Pegu,  and  Tenas- 
serim,  commanding  the  outlets  of  the  Irrawaddy,  Sal  wen,  and 
Sitang,  and  extended  northward  to  Mandelay.  Three  millions 
of  people  were  thus  emancipated  from  one  of  the  most  oppres¬ 
sive  and  heartless  governments  in  Asia.  Soon  Toungoo, 
Shwaygyeen,  Henthada  and  Prome,  were  occupied  as  mission 
stations. 

The  theological  school  had  been  paralyzed  by  the  war,  and 
by  disease,  and  was  discontinued  in  1852.  This  was  now  re¬ 
opened  with  fourteen  pupils,  and  given  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Wade.  The  pupils  increased  in  numbers  and  piety,  and  gave 
great  satisfaction  in  their  progress.  In  April,  1855,  Mrs. 
Wade  wrote: 

“We  have  now  twenty-four  pupils  studying  for  the  ministry,  and  ex¬ 
pect  more  soon.  We  feel  that  our  time  was  never  better  employed,  for 
there  are  many  Karen  churches  begging  us  to  send  them  pastors.  One 
of  our  ordained  preachers  from  Tavoy  has  been,  for  eighteen  months,  in 
the  new  and  distant  station  called  Toungoo,  where  the  Holy  Spirit  has 
been  poured  out  wonderfully,  and  he  has  baptized  nine  hundred  happy 
converts,  and  the  work  still  goes  on.  No  white  missionary  has  ever 
seen  that  field  so  ripe  for  the  harvest.  Bro.  Whitaker  is  just  starting  for 
that  region,  to  be  gone  a  month.  We  should  have  been  there  long  ago,* 
but  our  health  is  quite  unequal  for  the  journey.  Brethren  Mason  and 
Harris  have  both  been  in  Toungoo,  but  did  not  see  one  of  these  Karen 
villages.  We  have  constant  correspondence  with  San  Quala,  the 
preacher  stationed  there,  and  have  full  confidence  in  his  work.  We  have 
seven  young  men  from  Toungoo,  with  us,  studying  for  the  ministry. 
Another  Karen  preacher  has  baptized  five  or  six  hundred.  We  are  send¬ 
ing  our  pupils  to  aid  them.  Four  went  from  our  school  last  year,  and 
we  hope  to  send  as  many  more  at  the  close  of  this  term.  Don’t  you 
think  we  are  happy  in  seeing  so  many  whom  we  trained  at  Tavoy,  able 
to  become  pastors  of  churches?  We  are  passing  through  severe  trials 
as  a  mission.  Pray  for  us,  that,  while  God  is  so  blessing  the  work,  Satan 
may  not  be  permitted  to  hinder  it.” 

“July,  1855.  Forty-eight  entered  the  Theological  school,  and  about 


24 


sixty  the  Normal.  We  have  been  much  cheered  in  the  work  of  helping 
them  to  get  a  knowledge  of  the  blessed  Bible,  that  they  may  impart  it  to 
others,  who  are  crying  1  Come  over  and  help  us.’  About  fifteen  hundred 
have  been  baptized  in  regions  just  opened  to  us  by  the  war,  by  one  Ka¬ 
ren  preacher  who  was  educated  in  his  own  sweet  language,  in  Tavoy. 
In  other  regions  a  glorious  work  is  going  on.  The  Lord  is  giving  us 
‘the  heathen  for  an  inheritance.’  The  young  men  with  us  must  be  fed 
while  studying.  They  are  willing  to  live  poor,  and  we  are  living  poor, 
and  our  usual  supplies  do  not  come  from  Boston.  Must  they  go  back 
to  their  rice  fields,  and  these  new  churches  be  left  without  native  pastors? 
Do  ask  the  brethren  if  they  are  letting  go  the  rope  when  the  well  is  so 
deep  and  the  waters  of  life  are  springing  up  in  such  rich  abundance. 
Dear  brethren,  are  you  letting  go  at  such  a  time  as  this?” 

“Jan.,  1856.  I  wish  the  friends  at  home  could  see  the  ragged  clothes 
these  fine  young  preachers  have,  while  preparing  to  go  to  the  many 
flocks  calling  for  shepherds.  All  our  large  scholars  are  in  the  jungle, 
for  want  of  means  to  feed  them,  while  the  cry  for  preachers  is  heart¬ 
rending.  The  people  are  going  back  to  their  superstitions  because  they 
have  none  to  lead  them,  and  the  young  men  longing  to  preach  the  gos¬ 
pel,  are  in  the  jungle,  with  none  to  instruct  them  in  the  Bible,  because 
we  can  not  give  them  plain  food.  Two  hundred  are  ready  to  enter  the 
ministry  had  they  the  needed  instruction.  These  are  the  hcen  trials  of 
our  missionary  life.” 

For  a  little  while  the  school  was  suspended  for  lack  of  funds, 
but  was  again  opened  by  the  aid  of  personal  friends  in  Bur¬ 
ma  and  America.  From  their  own  salary,  the  Wades, 
through  all  these  years,  while  supplies  were  being  affected  by 
financial  troubles  in  the  home  fields,  and  from  other  causes, 
supported  two  of  the  young  preachers  entirely. 

“Oct.,  1858.  We  daily  pray,  that,  when  the  Master  calls  for  us,  we 
*  may  still  be  found  at  our  post,  at  work.  We  desire  to  be  ready  for  any 
path  He  may  mark  for  us.  Should  one  of  us  be  left  alone  and  in  feeble 
health,  we  might  feel  it  duty  to  return  to  our  friends,  and  not  take  the 
time  of  missionaries  to  care  for  us.  Many  are  going  home,  sick,  and 
others  are  falling  on  the  field,  and  no  new  ones  are  sent  to  our  aid.  Satan 
is  pressing  us  hard,  and  has  succeeded  in  dividing  our  little  band,  so  that 
we  are  weak  indeed,  but  our  Captain  is  with  us  and  we  are  sure  of  victory 
at  last.  Truly,  I  tremble  for  the  Christians  in  America,  who  draw  back 
from  such  a  work  as  the  Lord  is  now  carrying  on  in  the  country  of  the 
Karens.  Do  ask  the  sisters,  who  think  jewelry  and  expensive  clothing 
necessary,  while  so  little  is  left  for  the  enlightenment  of  the  heathen , 
how  they  think  their  sisters  here  must  feel,  to  see  so  many  precious  con¬ 
verts,  begging  for  a  Bible  to  guide  them,  and  not  be  able  to  supply  the 
want.” 


25 


In  May,  1859,  Dr.  Binney  returned  from  America,  when 
the  Theological  school  was  removed  from  Maulmain  to  Ran¬ 
goon,  and  placed  again  in  his  care,  and  Mr.  Wade  gave  his 
whole  time  to  the  preparation  of  books  for  the  use  of  the 
mission.  This  change  brought  to  Mrs.  Wade,  as  well  as  to 
her  husband,  release  from  many  cares,  and  she  wrote: 

“If  we  have  been  enabled  to  labor  faithfully  and  with  some  measure 
of  success  for  more  than  thirty-five  years,  in  this  good  work,  we  attribute 
much  to  the  encouragement  we  have  received  from  the  friends  we  have 
left  behind,  and  especially  to  their  prayers.  And  now  that  our  poor 
labors  are  nearly  finished,  we  look  forward  with  sure  and  humble  hope 
to  those  bright  mansions  above,  where,  through  grace  alone,  we  expect 
soon  to  rejoice  together  with  those  precious  children  whom  the  Lord 
has  given  us  in  this  dark  land. 

‘  Better  than  daughters  or  than  sons, 

Temples  divine  of  living  stones 
Inscribed  with  Jesus’  name.’ 

“  I  feel  it  a  great  mercy,  an  undeserved  blessing,  that  the  physical,  and 
especially  the  nervous  debility,  induced  by  long  residence  in  this  hot 
climate,  is  seldom  permitted  to  dim  the  fair  prospect  of  heavenly  glory. 
As  I  approach  nearer  and  nearer  the  dark  waters,  the  mild  light  from 
the  other  side  falls  more  and  more  upon  my  pathway.  My  courage  may 
fail  when  called  to  go  over;  but  Christ  will  not  fail  the  soul  which  trusts 
humbly,  penitently  and  believingly  in  His  rich  free  grace.” 

In  a  letter  to  her  sister,  in  1859,  she  wrote: 

“  ‘  In  every  thing  give  thanks,’  said  Paul,  and  I  am  happy  to  say,  the 
prevailing  feeling  of  my  heart,  for  a  long  time  has  been  thankfulness. 
My  health  has  not  been  very  good  for  several  months  past,  but  the  most  of 
the  time  I  have  not  suffered  much  pain.  Though  much  alone,  I  have 
many  interesting  books  sent  me  by  friends,  which  have  helped  me  spend 
my  hours  of  weakness,  on  my  home-made  sofa,  by  my  window,  very 
pleasantly. 

“  Are  you  not  glad  we  can  have  glass  windows  and  a  board  house, 
now  that  we  are  old  and  feeble?  Mr.  Wade  is  stronger  than  I,  and  works 
his  regular  hours  with  comfort.  I  too  have  my  little  meetings  with 
native  sisters,  and  try  to  do  good  to  those  who  come  to  our  house.  I  feel 
that  my  situation  is  a  very  favorable  one  to  watch  and  pray  and  trim  my 
lamp,  and  be  ready  to  go.” 

A  year  later,  she  says: 

“  A  letter  from  Boston,  directed  Mr.  Wade  to  pull  off  our  house  roof 
of  bamboo  and  leaves,  and  put  on  one  of  timber  and  shingles,  which  are 
now  made  here,  in  the  steam  saw  mills,  and  now  we  have  such  a  nice 
roof  over  our  heads,  as  we  never  had  before  in  this  country.” 


2  6 


“June  20,  1863.  This  day  finishes  our  forty  years  of  missionary  life. 
What  a  life  of  changes  and  parting  scenes  mine  has  been.  I  am  thank¬ 
ful  all  has  been  blessed  to  make  me  feel  I  have  a  home  only  in  heaven.” 

“Oct.  1st.  We  have  news  from  America  about  a  month  old.  [The 
telegraph  had  reached  Calcutta.]  Two  overland  mails,  every  month, 
with  letters  and  papers,  that  come  in  about  two  months. 

“  When  we  first  came  to  Burma,  they  were  from  six  to  eight  months 
in  reaching  us.  So  we  are  blessed  in  these  last  days.  My  health  is  fee¬ 
ble,  my  strength  failing,  but  without  disease,  and  I  was  never  happier  in 
my  life.  I  seem  to  live  on  the  pleasant  banks  of  Jordan,  often  getting- 
sweet  views  of  the  land  on  the  other  side,  and  have  no  doubts  or  fears 
about  crossing  over.  If  you  think  I  enjoy  all  this  because  I  have  done 
some  great  work,  or  become  very  good,  jmu  will  greatly  dishonor  our 
blessed  Saviour,  who  knows  that  I  am  one  of  the  most  undeserving,  and 
that  my  poor  work  has  been  all  sin-defiled.  All  I  enjoy  is  from  His  rich 
free  grace,  and. all  my  hope  is  in  being  united  with  Christ,  that  I  may  be 
partaker  of  His  holiness.  When  we  become  so  acquainted  with  Christ 
as  to  see  ourselves  all  sinful  and  hateful  in  comparison  with  Him,  we  are 
prepared  to  prize  the  blessed  robe  of  His  righteousness.  And  thus, 
adopted  into  His  family,  and  loved,  not  because  we  are  good,  but  because 
we  are  His  children,  we  begin  truly  to  love  Him,  and  to  enjoy  that  peace 
which  nothing  can  disturb.  These  are  my  views  in  my  last  days,  and 
they  are  precious  realities  to  me.  O !  how  we  shall  love  to  talk  of  this 
wondrous  grace  of  Christ,  as  we  walk  the  golden  streets  together.” 

“Jan.,  1864.  We  tremble  when  a  mail  arrives,  lest  we  hear  of  bitter 
sorrow  among  those  dear  to  us.  Our  prayers  and  sympathies,  could  not 
have  been  greater  for  our  dear  country  had  we  always  lived  under  its 
good  government.  We  daily  pray  for  the  removal  of  slavery  and  the 
close  of  this  terrible  war.” 

/ 

During  their  residence  at  Maulmain,  they  did  not  forget  the 
mission  at  Tavoy.  They  welcomed  its  missionaries  to  their 
home  while  studying  the  language,  and  cheered  them  by  their 
counsels  as  they  went  to  their  work.  One  of  these,  Rev. 
Thomas  Allen,  whose  heart  is  still  in  the  foreign  work,  gives 
a  delightful  picture  of  the  reception  given  by  the  native  Chris¬ 
tians  at  the  house  of  Brother  and  Sister  Wade,  and  under  her 
direction,  to  the  u  deputation  ”  and  others  who  went  out  in 
1852,  and  says  of  her: 

“  She  was  habitually  cheerful,  she  always  wore  a  pleasant  smile,  and, 
however  exhausted,  cared  always  for  every  want  of  others  before  her 
own.  ‘  Never  to  be  weary  in  well-doing,’  seemed  to  be  her  motto.  She 
met  us  on  our  arrival  with  a  most  hearty  welcome,  and  from  that  mo- 


27 


merit  took  Mrs.  Allen  under  her  special  care,  and  became  to  her  all  that 
a  mother  could  be.  We  spent  four  months  under  her  hospitable  roof, 
and  the  intimate  friendship  there  commenced,  never  ceased  till  she  was 
called  to  her  home  above.” 

We  are  favored  with  the  privilege  of  a  few  extracts  from 
her  correspondence.  Soon  after  their  arrival  she  wrote  to 
Mrs.  Allen’s  mother: 

“  As  your  beloved  daughter  is  now  with  us,  and  we  are  beginning  to 
love  her  as  a  daughter,  I  thought  that  you  might  like  to  hear  from  me 
that  she  and  her  husband  are  in  fine  health,  and  though  her  eyes  fill 
with  tears,  at  mention  of  the  dear  home  she  has  left,  she  is  very  cheerful, 
and  has  made  a  good  beginning  in  the  language.  We  hope  to  keep  them 
with  us  for  a  time  that  she  may  study  free  from  care,  and  if  her  health, 
fails,  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  be  a  mother  to  her.  Tavoy  is  our  old  home, 
a  pleasant  station,  and  I  am  sure  Mrs.  Thomas  and  your  daughter,  will 
love  each  other  like  sisters,  and  our  beloved  sister  Bennett  will  be  like 
a  mother  to  them  both.  They  enter  the  missionary  life  when  all  the 
common  comforts  of  life  are  within  reach,  and  they  will  not  have  to 
live  alone  as  many  of  us  did  years  ago.  You  will  often  think  of  those 
who  have  found  an  early  grave  in  Burma,  but  a  good  number  have 
been  spared  to  labor  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  and  we  have  been  here 
nearly  thirty,  and,  could  I  choose  again,  I  would  spend  them  all  in 
Burma.” 

>• 

To  Mrs.  Allen,  in  1855: 

“  My  dear  sister.  Through  Mrs.  Knapp  we  have  been  hearing  all 
about  our  old  home.  I  feel  much  interested  in  your  school,  and  can  tell 
you  for  your  encouragement,  that  the  dear  departed  sister  Mason  was 
blessed  in  the  conversion  of  several  souls,  in  connection  with  a  small 
day  school.  She  used  to  devote  an  hour  daily,  while  baby  was  asleep, 
to  a  class  in  some  Bible  lesson  and  in  talking  to  them  of  Christ.  And 
prayer  was  answered.  I  trust  your  labors  will  be  blessed.  The  natives 
need  daily  instruction,  to  keep  the  subject  of  repentance  before  their 
minds  until  deeply  impressed,  and  your  school  is  a  very  favorable  place 
for  such  efforts.  Please  tell  me  if  any  one  of  the  pupils  appear  to  be 
serious. 

“  Sep.,  1856. — How  lonely  you  must  feel.  How  anxious  about  your 
husband’s  health.  Howl  wish  you  were  in  our  little  prophet’s  chamber, 
while  he  is  in  Rangoon.  He  looks  much  changed.  I  fear  he  can  not 
bear  this  climate  ;  if  not  better  from  this  change  I  think  he  ought  to 
go  home.  I  am  sure  this  state  of  suspense  must  be  very  trying  to  you 
as  well  as  to  him.  I  have  been  sighing  as  I  wrote  this  over  the  sad  in¬ 
telligence  of  Sister  Harris’s  death.  How  little  I  thought  of  ever  living 
to  write  it.” 


28 


In  1859,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  were  obliged  to  return  home, 
and  the  next  year  Mr.  Cross  left  to  help  in  the  harvest  fields 
around  Toungoo,  leaving  the  Tavoy  mission  entirely  in  the 
care  of  native  pastors.  The  experiment  was  premature  and 
the  cause  declined.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colburn  were  assigned  to 
the  place  in  1864,  and  the  Wades  accompanied  them.  In 
Jan.,  1864,  Mrs.  Wade  dates  from  the  “sweet  Tavoy  home 

“  We  came  here  about  two  months  ago,  to  assist  our  new  missionaries 
in  making  a  beginning  in  their  new  field.  They  are  sent  to  the  Karens 
in  their  jungle  villages,  which  we  are  not  able  to  visit  as  in  former  years, 
but  we  find  so  much  to  do,  in  this  large  Burman  city,  that  we  have 
about  concluded  to  remain  here,  and  give  them  one  more  call  to  repent, 
and  believe  on  Him  who  alone  can  save  them.  Mr.  Wade  has  made 
one  visit  with  Mr.  Colbbrn  to  Mata,  the  Karen  village,  that  was  once  our 
home.  The  dear  Karens  came  after  them  with  their  elephants,  and  I 
wish  you  could  have  seen  them  when  they  returned  with  quite  a  party 
on  five  huge  elephants,  by  torch  light,  in  the  evening.  I  wish  still  more 
you  could  see  these  dear  loving  Karens,  who  have  been  redeemed  from 
this  mass  of  heathenism.  These  dear  children  whom  the  Lord  has 
given  us,  you  will  know  and  love  them  by  and  by. 

“This  morning  Mr.  Wade  and  Mr.  Colburn  have  gone  up  the  river  to  a 
Karen  Association.  You  will  be  surprised  that  I  stay  behind,  especially 
when  I  tell  you  how  much  I  wanted  to  go,  and  how  the  dear  Karens 
begged  to  be  allowed  to  prepare  an  easy  chair  and  carry  me  every  step 
of  the  way.  But  it  was  important  that  the  men  should  both  go,  and 
Mrs.  Colburn  with  her  delicate  babe,  and  almost  unacquainted  with  the 
language,  could  not  be  left  alone.” 

“Jan.,  1866. — We  have  suffered  much  since  I  last  wrote,  in  the  illness 
of  my  dear  husband.  Having  no  physician  nearer  than  Maulmain,  it 
has  been  very  trying  to  me,  though  he  has  been  so  sweetly  patient,  and 
continually  said,  I  did  all  for  him  that  any  doctor  could  have  done. 
Brother  and  Sister  Colburn  have  been  as  kind  as  friends  can  be,  and 
at  Bro.  Hibbard’s  request  we  at  last  went  to  them  at  Maulmain  for 
medical  advice.  We  returned  much  improved  in  health,  and  are  very 
happy  in  our  work  here.” 

“Jan.  10th,  1866. — You  think  of  me,  dear  sister,  to-day,  as  it  is  mine 
and  Theresa’s  birthday.  If  time  is  reckoned  in  heaven,  the  happy  day 
of  her  entrance  into  the  joy  of  her  Lord,  must  be  her  birthday  there, 
must  it  not?  How  delightful  it  will  be  to  meet  her  there  and  all  the 
loved  ones  who  have  gone.  But  the  altogether  lovely  One  will  be  the 
chief  attraction  of  heaven. 

“  I  have  one  of  the  best  of  husbands.  He  has  long  since  been  enabled 
to  rise  above  the  fears  and  doubts,  with  which  Satan  so  troubled  him  in 


29 


earlier  life,  and  is  now  a  very  happy,  cheerful  Christian.  He  grows 
more  gentle  and  affectionate  and  indulgent  every  year,  and  with  presents 
of  books,  and  a  supply  of  papers,  we  never  feel  the  want  of  society.  In 
trying  to  do  good  to  the  poor  people  around  us,  we  find  our  time 
pleasantly  occupied,  and  cannot  often  find  as  much  time  to  read  together 
as  we  wish.”  • 

Mr.  Colburn  remained  but  a  year,  when  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  on  account  of  ill  health,  but  the  Wades  remained  and 
labored  on.  Mrs.  Wade  still  kept  her  Sunday-School,  her 
class  of  boys,  her  woman’s  meeting,  as  in  earlier  days.  The 
Spirit  of  God  was  with  them.  Eleven  boys  in  the  school 
requested  baptism.  A  subdued  feeling  seemed  to  pervade 
every  breast.  The  following  year  sixty  were  baptized. 

In  a  letter  written  Dec.,  1866,  to  Heman  Lincoln,  Treasurer 
of  the  Miss.  Union,  Mrs.  Wade  says: 

“  We  are  now  quite  alone,  trying  to  defend  this  outpost  for  Immanuel’s 
invading  army,  as  our  beloved  Bro.  Colburn’s  health  has  failed  and  he 
has  been  absent  now  nearly  two  months.  Our  Governor  and  family  are 
absent  visiting  distant  villages,  so  there  is  not,  besides  ourselves,  a  single 
white  face  in  the  city.  We  feel,  most  of  all,  the  want  of  a  physician,  lest 
sickness  should  come.  But  the  great  Physician  is  with  us,  and  we  are 
joyful  in  Him.  We  often  look  back  to  this  month  in  1823,  when  we  first 
landed  in  Burma,  and  the  beloved  Judson  gave  us  that  cordial  greeting, 
and  said,  ‘We  have  now  eighteen  precious  souls,  redeemed  from  the 
power  of  the  great  adversary,  and,  although  they  are  scattered  abroad, 
and  have  no  Fort  of  Defence,  yet  we  have  the  sure  and  faithful  promises 
of  God  for  the  future.’  Plow  faithfully  those  promises  have  been  ful¬ 
filled  to  us,  you  well  know.  When  those  first  dark  days  in  Rangoon 
and  Ava  came  upon  us,  though  we  had  no  fort  on  earth  for  refuge,  we 
had  the  Strong  Tower  to  which  the  righteous  flee,  and  we  were  kept 
safe.  And  we  live  to  see  not  merely  eighteen,  but  eighteen  thousand  in 
our  ranks,  and,  without  the  camp,  tens  of  thousands  from  whom  we 
constantly  receive  recruits;  and  who  has  numbered  those  loved  ones 
who  have  been  called  up  higher,  whom  Christ  will  bring  with  Him, 
when  Pie  comes  to  the  grand  review.  Continue  to  pray  for  us,  my 
brother,  as  we  do  for  you,  until  our  poor  prayers  are  turned  to  praise.” 

That  change  was  near.  Her  days  of  active  work  for  Christ 
were  almost  ended.  Her  sun  of  life  drew  near  its  setting,  and 
to  her  waiting  soul  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  verified,  u  At 
evening  time  it  shall  be  light.”  In  Jan.,  1868,  her  health  began 


3° 


seriously  to  decline,  and  she  soon  recognized  it  as  her  last  ill¬ 
ness.  Relief  was  sought,  by  change  of  locality,  and  sea  air, 
and,  with  her  husband  she  went  by  Mergui  to  Maulmain.  She 
returned  more  feeble  than  when  she  left.  Medical  aid  from 
the  first,  afforded  only  partial  and  transient  relief.  Her  physi¬ 
cian  died  in  April,  and  from  that  time,  she  was  without 
medical  treatment.  For  a  time  in  May  she  slowly  improved, 
but  the  rains,  which  usually  commence  by  the  middle  of  May, 
were  withheld  until  the  tenth  of  June.  Under  the  intense  heat, 
the  violence  of  her  disease  (diarrhoea)  increased  rapidly.  The 
ninth  of  June,  in  the  afternoon,  they  thought  her  dying. 
The  cool  of  the  evening  revived  her,  and  she  said  that  she 
should  not  die  yet,  though  it  seemed  to  those  about  her,  she 
could  not  survive  the  night.  u  Apparently  in  the  very  arms 
of  death,”  wrote  Mr.  Wade,  from  whose  journal  we  sketch 
this  account: 

“  She  lay  peaceful  and  happy,  gazing  at  the  coming  glory.  She  was 
too  weak  to  talk  much,  but  every  word  she  uttered,  showed  that  all  was 
peace  and  triumph  within.  She  said  she  longed  to  be  with  Christ,  to 
behold  His  glory,  to  be  all  pure  and  holy  as  the  spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect.  All  that  disturbed  her  tranquility  was  my  sadness.  She  said 
that  I  ought  to  be  cheerful,  but,  alas,  I  could  not  be  so.  She  was  quiet 
through  the  night,  and  in  the  morning,  the  immediate  symptoms  of  de¬ 
parture  had  passed  away. 

“  The  few  native  Christians  whom  we  have  in  town,  are  very  kind,  but 
are  so  unaccustomed  to  European  habits,  that  they  know  not  how  to 
render  the  aid  they  would.  There  is  not  a  single  European  friend  on 
whom  we  can  call,  and  they  see  the  exigency  of  the  case,  and  are  very 
earnest  in  their  prayers,  that  their  beloved  mama  may  recover,  or  if 
not,  that  she  may  be  spared  until  missionary  aid  could  come  from  Maul¬ 
main  or  Rangoon,  or,  at  least,  until  the  close  of  the  rains,  which  have 
now  begun.  Mrs.  Wade  is  quite  resigned  to  the  circumstances,  and 
would  not  have  them  different  if  she  could.  Her  calmness  is  very  won¬ 
derful  to  me.  With  her  own  hands  she  has  prepared  her  grave  clothes, 
and  made  every  other  arrangement  that  could  be  made  beforehand  for 
her  last  sleep,  and  for  my  comfort  when  she  can  be  no  longer  with  me.” 

“  June  18th. — This  evening  she  said,  she  felt  such  a  peace  as  she  had 
never  known  before,  or  had  any  conception  of.  Though  the  body 
endured  great  weariness  and  discomfort,  there  was  no  acute  pain,  and 
she  felt  as  if  she  were  lying  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  like  an  infant  on  a  mat 


at  its  mother’s  feet,  content  with  just  looking  up  into  the  mother’s  face. 
Again  she  spoke  of  the  wonderful  peace  she  enjoyed.  To  me,  she  says, 

‘  the  world  is  all  left  behind,  the  glory  of  heaven  is  before  me,’  I  am 
amazed  at  the  grace  that  makes  her  so  content  with  her  circumstances, 
with  no  European  but  myself,  and  none  of  the  comforts  necessary  to 
the  sick  room.  Her  mind  is  most  tranquil.  She  says  she  is  on  the 
rock  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  waves  that  dash  around  cannot  reach  her. 
It  gives  her  pain  to  see  my  grief  at  the  prospect  of  losing  her.  Indeed 
I  ought  not  to  grieve.  It  does  seem  unreasonable  selfishness.  I  do  pray 
constantly  for  grace  to  say  to  her,  Farewell,  go  to  Jesus,  He  calls  you, 
His  is  the  highest  claim,  go  and  be  happy.  Still  nature  cries,  not  yet, 
not  yet.” 

“  Sabbath.  Mrs.  Wade  is  more  feeble,  but  would  not  allow  me  to  stay 
with  her  during  the  time  for  public  worship.  She  entreats  me  not  to 
let  depression  of  spirits  hinder  me  from  attending  usual  meetings  or 
performing  any  missionary  duty,  and  urges  me  to  aim  constantly  to 
feed  Christ’s  sheep  and  lambs,  and  maintain  a  cheerful  trust  in  God.” 

“  23rd. — She  seemed  stronger  and  more  able  to  converse.  She  spoke 
of  past  and  present  experiences,  and  of  the  value  to  her  of  her  later 
years.  She  said  she  had  again  and  again  reviewed  the  past,  and  had 
been  sometimes  overwhelmed  with  the  thought  that  her  life  had  been 
a  complete  failure,  as  to  doing  any  real  good  even  to  these  poor  heathen. 
But  at  the  same  time,  she  says,  I  see  the  love  of  God  so  abounding,  that 
all  doubts  of  my  acceptance  are  at  once  removed.  Indeed  she  seemed 
almost  to  rejoice  at  her  own  nothingness,  that  the  grace  of  God  might 
be  magnified  thereby. 

“  After  a  comfortable  night,  she  said,  ‘This  morning  while  dozing,  I 
seemed  to  be  singing,  ‘  O !  bear  me,  ye  cherubim,  up,  and  waft  me  away 
to  His  throne.’  Again  ‘  Our  season  of  evening  worship  was  very  pleas¬ 
ant  to  me.’  ‘  Tell  sister  Mary  when  I  have  sufficient  strength  to  medi¬ 
tate,  my  mind  is  exhilarated  as  though  I  almost  hear  the  songs  of 
angels  all  around  me.  Buoyancy  of  spirit  when  in  perfect  health,  and 
all  is  joyous,  cannot  equal  the  happiness  I  feel.  The  prayers  of 
Quala  are  keeping  me  back  from  heaven.  Though  longing  to  go,  I  am 
willing  to  stay  if  the  Lord  wills  it.  All  is  peace,  such  peace  as  none 
can  comprehend  without  personal  experience.  It  seems  like  heaven 
begun. 

“  Lying  on  her  bed,  she  spoke  of  the  delightful  views  she  had  had  of 
heaven,  and  of  the  happiness  she  anticipated  in  the  society  of  loved 
ones  from  whom  she  is  now  separated,  she  said,  ‘  Tell  sister  Mary 
how  much  I  want  to  write  and  tell  her  of  the  blissful  foretastes  I  con¬ 
stantly  enjoy  of  the  coming  glory,  but  I  am  not  able  and  must  wait  till 
we  meet  above.  My  mind  has  for  years  past  been  preparing  for  its 
present  happy  state.  I  have  had,  and  still  have  a  most  humiliating 
sense  of  my  own  sinfulness,  but,  at  the  same  time  I  have  daily  felt 
that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  me  from  all  sin,  and  His  right¬ 
eousness  covers  me  all  over  like  a  garment.” 


32 


And  so,  trusting  in  Christ’s  perfect  righteousness,  with  no 
society,  save  the  few  native  Christians,  and  her  afflicted  hus¬ 
band,  who  was  himself  seized  with  a  nervous  fever  in  August, 
no  physician,  nor  nurse,  nor  fresh  bread,  nor  other  seeming 
necessaries  of  the  sick  room,  she  remained,  through  all  the 
summer  and  early  autumn,  content,  thankful,  happy;  her 
spirit  sustained  by  unseen  hands,  till  prayer  was  answered, 
the  rains  were  past,  when,  borne  on  the  bright  October  air, 
there  fell,  on  the  stricken  husband’s  ear,  one  word  of  parting, 
and,  after  a  few  hours  of  unconscious  breathing,  the  earth¬ 
ward  “  glimpses  of  glory  ”  were  merged  in  the  full  splendor 
of  heaven’s  eternal  day. 

The  commissioner,  with  his  family  and  physician,  had  re¬ 
turned  to  the  fort,  and  kindly  superintended  all  the  prepara¬ 
tions  for  the  funeral.  Her  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
burial  ground  ©f  the  English  Church.  Everything  was  done 
by  the  English  officials,  that  could  be  done  at  Tavoy,  and  the 
next  day,  Mr.  Norris,  a  missionary  brother,  arrived  from 
Maul  main. 

The  beautiful  life  of  our  sainted  sister,  so  imperfectly  out¬ 
lined,  needs  no  word  of  comment.  If  these  pages  shall  waken 
in  any  heart  a  desire  for  “  a  closer  walk  with  God,”  if  any 
young  Christian,  through  this  brief  record  of  a  holy  life,  is 
made  stronger  for  service,  and,  especially  if  it  leads  any  to 
find,  and  perform  the  work  yet  waiting  for  willing  hearts  and 
hands,  in  heathen  lands,  the  object  of  this  sketch  will  have 
been  accomplished. 


